Shalom

The Christian idea of peace takes its inspiration from shalom, the Hebrew word for peace in the Old Testament that includes ideas of completeness and well-being.

One key biblical idea is that God gives us peace, an internal state where we let go of our anxiety and lack of control of the world around us. Many of us lean on that promise when things feel out of control, either in our personal lives or in the world around us.

But there’s another dimension to peace that is interpersonal. Paul talks about relational peace many times in his New Testament letters, because he was working with churches with very different types of people who struggled to get along. “Listen to my appeal,” he begs in one letter, “agree with one another; live in peace.” “Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding,” he pleads in another.

I think my favorite passage where Paul encourages followers of Jesus to peace is this: “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

On the one hand, the call couldn’t be any more all-encompassing: live at peace with everyone. We’re not off the hook until we have addressed everything that depends on us.

On the other hand, there’s a realism in Paul: peace is not always possible. Maybe the other person doesn’t want to talk, doesn’t understand that there’s an issue, is too angry to talk. Sometimes when this happens, we may shrug and move on. Other times, the rupture may be more painful. In those moments we will find ourselves asking the God of shalom for “the peace that passes understanding” as we hope and long for a restoration that takes some time to arrive.